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International Day for Tolerance

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day for Tolerance is annually observed on November 16 to educate people about the need for tolerance in society and to help them understand the negative effects of intolerance.

What do people do?

The International Day for Tolerance is a time for people to learn about respecting and recognizing the rights and beliefs of others. It is also a time of reflection and debate on the negative effects of intolerance. Live discussions and debates take place across the world on this day, focusing on how various forms of injustice, oppression, racism and unfair discrimination have a negative impact on society.

Many educators use the theme of this day to help students in classrooms or in lecture theatres understand issues centered on tolerance, human rights and non-violence. These issues are also found in text books, lesson material and other educational resources used for this event. The UN Chronicle Online Education also features articles about tolerance. Information on the day is disseminated through flyers, posters, news articles and broadcasts, and other promotional material to raise people’s awareness about the importance of tolerance. Other activities include essays, dialogues and story-telling of people’s personal accounts of intolerance and how it affects their lives.

Human rights activists also use this day as an opportunity to speak out on human rights laws, especially with regard to banning and punishing hate crimes and discrimination against minorities. In the workplace, special training programs, talks, or messages from workplace leaders about the importance of tolerance are utilized on this day.

Public life

The UN’s International Day for Tolerance is a global observance and not a public holiday.

Background

In 1996 the UN General Assembly invited member states to observe the International Day for Tolerance on November 16, with activities directed towards both educational establishments and the wider public (resolution 51/95 of 12 December). This action came in the wake of the United Nations Year for Tolerance, 1995, proclaimed by the assembly in 1993 (resolution 48/126). The year was declared on the General Conference of UNESCO’s initiative. On November 16, 1995, the UNESCO member states adopted the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance and Follow-up Plan of Action for the year.

The 2005 World Summit Outcome document outlines the commitment of Heads of State and Government to advance human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere, as well as to encourage tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures, civilizations and peoples.

Symbols

UNESCO’s logo, which features a temple including the UNESCO acronym (for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) within itself and the words “United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization” underneath the temple, is used for online or print promotional material associated with the International Day for Tolerance. The use of the complete name in English, in association with one or several other languages provides an explanation of the acronym of the organization. The six official languages of UNESCO are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Images of people of all backgrounds, cultures and ages, which are assembled into a collage, are also used for the International Day for Tolerance to get the message across to people about understanding tolerance regardless of differences.

International Day for Tolerance Observances

Select another year-range:

Weekday

Date

Year

Name

Holiday type

Where it is observed

Sat

Nov 16

1996

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Sun

Nov 16

1997

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Mon

Nov 16

1998

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Tue

Nov 16

1999

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Thu

Nov 16

2000

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Fri

Nov 16

2001

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Sat

Nov 16

2002

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Sun

Nov 16

2003

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Tue

Nov 16

2004

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Wed

Nov 16

2005

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Thu

Nov 16

2006

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Fri

Nov 16

2007

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Sun

Nov 16

2008

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Mon

Nov 16

2009

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Tue

Nov 16

2010

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Wed

Nov 16

2011

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Fri

Nov 16

2012

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Sat

Nov 16

2013

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Sun

Nov 16

2014

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Mon

Nov 16

2015

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Wed

Nov 16

2016

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Thu

Nov 16

2017

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Fri

Nov 16

2018

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Sat

Nov 16

2019

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Mon

Nov 16

2020

International Day for Tolerance

United Nations observance

Quick Facts

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day for Tolerance is observed on November 16 each year to help people understand the importance of tolerance worldwide.